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| Novel Behavioral Interventions for Older Adults and Potential Delinquents |
| Tuesday, May 27, 2014 |
| 1:00 PM–1:50 PM |
| W179b (McCormick Place Convention Center) |
| Area: CBM |
| Chair: Parsla Vintere (Queens College, City University of New York) |
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Walk and Talk Therapy |
| Domain: Theory |
| PARSLA VINTERE (Queens College, City University of New York) |
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| Abstract: A typical format for conducting psychotherapy sessions may not always be suitable for the residents of assisted living or long-term care facilities. Residents of these facilities are older adults in poor physical health and many of them suffer from chronic mental disorders and adjustment problems. They often rely on the care giving of others and they rarely engage in health behaviors, such as exercise. Although research shows that physical activity may alleviate many types of mental disorders and improve one's well-being, it is not always fully implemented in the long-term care settings. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Walk and Talk intervention, the critical aspect of which is to recognize the importance of physical activity to well-being and its feasibility in psychotherapy sessions. The development of an effective clinical behavior analytic approach to the Walk and Talk psychotherapy with aging population is discussed with the presentation of two case studies. Potential strengths and weaknesses of this psychotherapy session format are discussed. |
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| Behavioral Coaching for ADHD as Delinquency Prevention |
| Domain: Service Delivery |
| LEASHA BARRY (University of West Florida), Trudi Gaines (University of West Florida) |
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| Abstract: A disproportionate number of individuals with ADHD are represented in the population of incarcerated youth and adults. Although the predictive relationship between ADHD diagnoses and later delinquency is well established, very little information is available on the outcome of youth in terms of delinquency who received various interventions for ADHD. As such it is relatively unknown, but often assumed, that intervention for ADHD symptoms also prevents later criminal activity and thus incarceration and recidivism. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relevant literature in the areas of ADHD and delinquency intervention, illuminating this potentially important gap, and to provide possible future research directions to help clarify the issue. In addition, the paper with examine a proposed behavioral coaching model as adapted from traditional coaching models. The proposed model shall specifically incorporate behavior analytical approaches and provide information about incorporating the coaching model into some existing interventions for delinquency prevention. The hope is that the juvenile justice system will embrace a developmental view of behavior, allowing for positive outcomes for the greatest number of our children. An initial investment in interventions such as behavioral coaching may have considerable long-term returns, not only in dollars saved, but also in the human capital of an adolescent spared the path into adult criminality. |
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A Behavioral Conceptualization Of Alzheimer's Disease |
| Domain: Theory |
| KATHLEEN FAIRCHILD (Rehabilitation Institute Southern Illinois Univers), Jonathan C. Baker (Southern Illinois University) |
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| Abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) has received increased attention due to the increasing incidence of AD associated with an aging population (Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, 2012). Research has found that individuals with AD are a heterogeneous group with individualized behavioral symptoms (Mark, 2012). Currently, there is not a single pharmacological agent or combination of drugs that have resulted in uniform and widespread therapeutic effects for this population and it is unlikely that one will be found any time soon (Geldmacher et al., 2006; Patel & Grossberg, 2012). Behavioral interventions have been found to be effective in treating several of the behavioral symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease. However, behavior analysts have largely ignored this area. This may be due to the lack of a behavioral conceptualization that informs and guides future research. Therefore, a behavioral conceptualization is needed to directly guide individualized treatment and to encourage more behavior analysts to begin to conduct research in this area. The purpose of this paper is to propose a behavioral conceptualization of Alzheimer's disease, which could inform and improve treatment planning and adoption as well as guide future research. |
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